Frequently Asked Questions

Cork Harbour is one of the largest natural harbours in the world. The town of Cobh sits facing the mouth of the Harbour. Cork city is 11 miles further inland but is easily accessed by excellent train, bus and road links.

The Cruise Berth is located in the town of Cobh. A short 3 minute walk and you are strolling along the main Promenade. If your ship is berthing in Ringaskiddy please see the FAQ below “How do we get from Ringaskiddy to Cobh”

St Colman’s Cathedral dominates the town of Cobh. It was built in the neo-Gothic style over the course of 47 years, and was finally completed in 1911. It boasts a100m-high spire and a tower that contains a 42-bell carillon, the largest in Ireland or Britain.

The cathedral continues to be a place of worship and often hosts recitals featuring choirs from around the world.

To get to the cathedral requires quite a steep climb either up steps or a side road. But it is worth it, the cathedral has stunning architecture both inside and out and also extensive stained glass windows. Photography is permitted.

There are a number of options to get to visit Ireland’s second city. Perhaps the most convenient is by train which is a fast and reliable way to get to Cork.

The Train station is located directly in front of the cruise berth. Weekday trains to Cork operate every hour on the half hour and the journey takes just 24 minutes. Return trains from Cork operate every hour on the hour. When larger Cruise ships visit Cobh extra trains are added to the schedule – usually trains operate every half an hour. Passengers can visit Fota House, Gardens and Wildlife Park by using Fota station or can change trains at Glounthaune to get to Midleton (for Jameson Distillery). Cobh and Cork stations ONLY are fully wheelchair accessible.

Cork is a very walkable city and easy to get around and the city’s train station is just a seven minute walk from the city centre.

Car Hire

You can pre-book a car hire before you visit and explore the myriad attractions of Cork and its hinterland at your own pace. Cork has a number of Cork rental companies to facilitate all your driving needs. Please see the list of different rental companies in Cork City:

Cobh is a captivating town nestled in the second largest harbour in the world at the start of Ireland’s Ancient East and the Wild Atlantic Way.

This ancient harbour town is steeped in history, awash with culture, full of great restaurants and bars, has more attractions and exhibitions then you can shake a stick at and has oodles of fun things to do for everyone from the adventurous and those who simply love the quiet life.

Cobh, (formerly known as Queenstown), was once said to be the saddest town in Ireland due to its connection with Irish immigration. Almost 3 million Irish people from every corner of Ireland emigrated from this port and scattered throughout the globe. Their story is told in wonderful detail in the amazing Cobh Heritage Centre. Here you can explore the conditions on board the early emigrant vessels, including the dreaded "coffin ships”; experience life on board a convict ship leaving for Australia in 1801; witness the tragic story of the Lusitania, which sank off Cork Harbour and learn about Annie Moore, the first ever immigrant to be processed in Ellis Island. The Centre has a specific exhibition dedicated to the ill-fated Titanic and also offers a Genealogy Record finder Service.

Fancy exercising your brainpower? Then Escapade is for you. This amazing new attraction challenges you to pit your wits against a series of challenges to escape from a virtual Spike island, rob a bank or assist Sherlock Holmes in solving a dastardly crime. Geniuses only!

Enough brain teasing? Well how about something different?

Fota Wildlife Park just 10 miles from Cobh, is undoubtedly one of the best Wildlife Parks in Europe. Many of the animals here roam free, allowing visitors to get up close and personal with some of the world’s most amazing creatures. The Park’s Tropical House is home to Butterflies, Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and Tropical Fish. and their Asian Sanctuary houses Sumatran Tigers, Warty Pigs, and Lion-Tailed Macaques. Make sure your phone battery is charged - lots and lots of photo ops here!

Not tired yet? Then head on a Spike Island Adventure - a self-declared fun factory where you can learn all sorts of useful skills. And for those of you who just love the water they offer kayaking tours around the island, which has a history dating back to medieval times.

Cobh was of course, the last port of call for the Titanic. The Titanic Experience offers visitors an opportunity to travel in the footsteps of an actual passenger on that famous ships tragic maiden voyage. Only at the end will you discover if you were one of those who survived or were lost! The Experience is housed in the original White Star Line Ticket Office which was the embarkation point for the final 123 passengers to board Titanic on April 11th 1912.

We could go on about the Road Train, Cobh Cathedral, Cork Harbour Boat Hire, Walking tours, the incredible food, and the amazing traditional music offering - but you’re just going to have to check all that out for yourself.

Oh and did we mention the people? Cobh is used to welcoming visitors - after all they’ve been a trading port for centuries and though it’s small, it’s cosmopolitan - in its own unique way. The warmth of Cobh’s welcome is legendary. And there’s an old saying in this beautiful town - “You’re only a stranger here once”.

The currency in Ireland is the € euro. Most outlets in Ireland accept all major credit cards such as VISA and MasterCard although you may need to check in advance if American Express is accepted. Automated Teller Machines are widely available if you wish to withdraw cash in euro.

The Cruise Berth has its own dedicated Tourism Information Centre. Located in the beautiful Victorian Train Station Building, (just up from the ticket office), this conveniently located facility provides a wealth of information for the Cruise ship passenger. Find out about Cobh, Cork City and all the attractions within striking distance of the port. The staff are excellent and the welcome legendary!

There is another Tourist Office operated by Cobh Chamber located at Market House, Arch Building, Casement Square, Cobh which offers information on places to eat, routes to take, maps, guides and books, places to visit, things to do and information on local events. Their friendly and extremely knowledgeable tourism officers will be more than happy to advise you and provide assistance and information when you are in Cobh.

Both Cobh and Ringaskiddy are situated in the lower harbour and are separated by 1.5 miles of water. When cruise ships berth at Ringaskiddy it is possible to travel by car/taxi from Ringaskiddy to Passage West where a year round cross river ferry will bring you across the channel and a short distance from Cobh.

You can use a combination of bus or taxi, a short walk to Carrigaloe Train Station and then the train to Cobh: -

Hire a taxi from for the short distance from Ringaskiddy to Passage West, then travel as a foot passenger on the cross river ferry (not expensive - timetable here http://crossriverferries.ie/timetable-fares/.), then walk about 10 minutes to the train station at Carrigaloe from where the train will bring you on into Cobh. The 10 minute walk is on the flat.

There is also a bus service from Ringaskiddy to Cork which will drop you about 3 minutes’ walk away from the cross river ferry, but it would be less direct than a taxi.

There is so much to see and do in the beautiful city of Cork- but here are our Top 12 recommendations: -

The English Market

Trading since 1788 and recently visited by Queen of England, this is the largest covered market in Europe, filled with local produce and gifts. This gem really is a feast for the eyes, the nose and the palate: -

“Never mind Paris or Brussels – if you want a gastronomic experience to remember forever, hop over to Cork and head for the English Market. If you like food, it’s like dying and going to heaven.” Food Guru India Knight

St. Fin Barre's Cathedral

Cork's French Gothic Cathedral, a site of worship for fourteen centuries. Designed by William Burgess, the building contains 1200 carvings, Masonic Stained Glass, Gargoyles, Griffins and Arches.

Lifetime Lab

This is an award winning Industrial Heritage Centre and Environmental Exhibition that includes interactive exhibits, a coffee dock, playground and gardens.

The Cork Butter Museum

Cork Butter Museum reveals the story of Irish butter and how Cork’s dairies fed the world. Hear about thousand year old butter that was buried in a bog to the 19th century centre of the world’s butter trade - Cork Butter Exchange. It also explores the global success of the modern Irish dairy industry. Fascinating!

Shandon Bells & Tower

Play the bells of this ancient tower with spectacular views of the city!

The historic Church opened in 1722 has become a famous symbol of Cork City with its pepper canister tower. Visitors to the Church can enjoy spectacular 360° views of Cork City and beyond from the balcony of the Shandon Bells Tower.

Cork City Gaol

A fascinating tour of the city's once-brutal prison. The Exhibition is housed in the former City Gaol. There are guided tours, school and educational tours, a souvenir shop, picnic area and an open-top hop-on hop-off tour bus stop here on a scheduled basis. The Gaol is reputedly haunted, original prisoner writing can be seen on the cell walls, there was a tunnel out of the gaol and famous prisoners include Countess Markievicz, the Irish nationalist, who spent four months there.

Lewis Glucksman Gallery & University College Cork

Architecturally stunning gallery in the grounds of University College Cork, the gallery promotes the research and creation of visual arts. The building includes display spaces, lecture facilities, a riverside restaurant and gallery shop. While there take the opportunity to stroll through the beautiful University grounds and view the incredible Ogham stone gallery.

Crawford Art Gallery

Explore historic and contemporary visual arts.

Crawford Art Gallery is a National Cultural Institution and art museum. It is dedicated to visual arts, with over 2500 works in the permanent collection, ranging from 18th century Irish and European painting and sculpture to contemporary video installations.

Elizabeth Fort

Originally built in 1601 during the reign of Elizabeth I, Elizabeth Fort is a fine example of a 17th century star-shaped fort, which overlooks the city. It played a significant role in the siege of Cork in 1690, became a British military barracks in 1719, was used as a holding prison for prisoners being transported to the Australian colonies during the 19th century and housed the infamous ‘Black & Tans’ during Ireland’s War of Independence. The Fort is open to the public and admission is free.

Cork Public Museum & Fitzgerald’s Park

Cork Public Museum is located in a period two storey Georgian mansion, originally built in 1845 for the prominent brewing Beamish family, in the beautiful Fitzgerald's Park. The property was purchased in 1902 by Cork Corporation to house the extraordinary Cork International Exhibition of 1902 and 1903. The Museum itself was originally opened in 1910, closed after the Burning of Cork in 1920 and re-opened in 1945. The recently opened Riverside Café offers superb views of the park and River Lee. The exhibitions are stunning.

CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory

The state of the art science exhibition at Blackrock Castle Observatory is situated in a historic 16th century castle and has an award winning interactive astronomy exhibit exploring the possibility of life throughout the universe. Dome & Dungeon Tours which are tours of the top dome and castle dungeons are popular with all ages and the Castle has a superb restaurant in its courtyard.

St. Peter's Church, North Main Street

Reopened in 2016, St Peters is an 18th century exhibition space featuring exhibitions commemorating Ireland struggle for independence between 1913 and 1923.

Also check out:

River Kayaking and get a unique perspective on Cork city from the river and if you’re lucky meet a seal.

The 215 bus will bring you to the Village of Blarney itself and the return leg deposits passengers in the City Centre, generally on Grand Parade, which is approx. a 10 to 15 minute walk from the train station, depending on how briskly you walk!

By Taxi

Cork is well served by an efficient taxi service provided by numerous companies. Agree the approximate fare with the taxi driver before you travel (see link for companies and phone numbers)

1. Taxis that have yellow signs on the roof and identifying stickers on the doors and

2. Hackneys which are largely unmarked by comparison.

Only taxis can queue in designated taxi ranks, use bus lanes and be hailed. Hackney journeys must be arranged in advance through a hackney company and the fare should be agreed in advance. All taxis have meters.

Car Hire

You can pre-book a car hire before you visit and explore the myriad attractions of Cork and its hinterland at your own pace. Cork has a number of Cork rental companies to facilitate all your driving needs. Please see the list of different rental companies in Cork City:

All members of the public are welcome to walk alongside Cobh Cruise Berth, however due to port security they are not permitted to board the cruise liner. Members of the public are not permitted to park on the quayside.